Chen Shuyi used all her strength to suppress the strange feeling in her heart, but the shyness of a young woman made her too embarrassed to meet Bai Zhao’s eyes. She turned her head slightly and said in a trembling voice:
“Heir Bai, it’s no trouble. Fourth Prince had originally invited Shuyi to attend a literary gathering today. Since the Heir has come to visit my Chen family, Shuyi should naturally keep you company.
There is a literary gathering every day; Shuyi can afford to miss just one. Please come with me. I’ll take you to see my Father.”
Bai Zhao frowned when he heard that. Fourth Prince? A literary gathering?
After a brief moment of thought, he remembered what Hongluan had said yesterday about the Fourth Prince scheming against him.
“Jiang Hongjun? That brat still hasn’t given up on Chen Shuyi? A literary gathering, huh? Interesting. A way to win people over?”
Bai Zhao did not think too much about it. He merely smiled and nodded.
“Then I’ll go along with Shuyi’s wishes. Uh, is it all right if I call you Shuyi? After all, we’re old acquaintances, childhood sweethearts, right?”
Without waiting for Chen Shuyi to respond, he waved Chuntao and Qiulan over and led them into the Chen Estate.
Chen Shuyi heard Bai Zhao’s words and did not know how to answer, so she simply let it go. After all, this man had always been like this; there was no need for her to nitpick such minor things.
Chen Shuyi led Bai Zhao all the way into Duke of Luguo’s Estate. Along the way, maidservants kept glancing at Bai Zhao. Though they tried to be discreet, Bai Zhao still noticed.
He even heard the maidservants whispering among themselves: Which young gentleman is this? So handsome. I’ve never seen him before. Could he be our future son-in-law?
Bai Zhao pretended not to hear them and awkwardly looked around at the scenery inside Duke of Luguo’s Estate.
Duke of Luguo’s Estate was slightly smaller than the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate.
But with seven layers of courtyards, it was still quite large!
However, unlike the Jiangnan mist-and-rain scenery of the Prince of Zhenbei’s estate, Duke of Luguo’s Estate truly lived up to its reputation as a noble family skilled in mechanical arts. All kinds of exquisite structures appeared one after another.
The interlocking eaves and winding corridors showed off superb workmanship and ingenuity everywhere, creating a kind of intricate beauty.
Chen Shuyi led the three of them into the reception hall, then turned to instruct a servant to notify her Father.
She then said to Bai Zhao and the other two, “Heir Bai, please wait a moment. My Father should be here shortly.”
Seeing that Bai Zhao and the others were looking at the mechanical devices in Duke of Luguo’s Estate, she added with a gentle smile on her delicate face:
“Heir Bai, are you interested in these ingenious mechanical items? Since waiting here would be boring, I’ll accompany the Heir to look around.”
Chen Shuyi did this purely out of politeness. After all, it would indeed be inappropriate to leave a guest waiting idly.
Bai Zhao came back from admiring the ancients’ exquisite craftsmanship and said with some praise:
“I’ve long heard that the Chen family of Duke of Luguo excels in mechanical arts. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation!
I’m quite interested in these things, but today I came to visit Uncle Chen, so I won’t go wandering around. If I get the chance in the future, I’ll take a proper look.”
Hearing Bai Zhao’s words, Chen Shuyi’s heart stirred again.
“Is he planning to visit my home often? What for? To see me?”
Unaware that he had been misunderstood once again, Bai Zhao saw that Chen Shuyi remained silent and started making conversation by introducing Chuntao and Qiulan.
Qiulan gave a respectful bow. After all, the person in front of her would be the future mistress of the Bai family; respect was only proper.
Chuntao was much more lively. After Bai Zhao introduced her, a smile appeared on her pretty little face, and she naturally curtsied to Chen Shuyi with a bright smile.
“Miss Chen, your servant saw you last year when I accompanied my princess consort to visit the Chen Estate. Do you remember me?”
Chen Shuyi looked at this charming and radiant maidservant, who immediately inspired goodwill in anyone who saw her. After thinking for a moment, a gentle smile also appeared on her lips.
“I remember. You’re Chuntao, right? You’re such an endearing girl, very cute.
No need to be so formal. I remember the princess consort is very fond of you and doesn’t treat you like a servant.”
Although Chen Shuyi valued propriety, she could tell that this girl held a high status in the Bai estate and could not be treated as an ordinary maidservant.
When Chuntao saw that Chen Shuyi remembered her and said such things, she smiled happily.
Then, noticing the slight tension between her Heir and the Chen family young lady, she rolled her eyes and pretended not to understand, seizing the opportunity to speak.
“Sister Shuyi, may I call you that? You told me not to be so formal, but you’re being very formal with my Heir!
I heard from the princess consort that the two of you have a marriage contract. So why is Sister Shuyi closer to me, a maidservant, than to my Heir?”
Chen Shuyi was stunned by the question, and her expression became somewhat complicated.
How could I be close to that rude fellow? He was so wild and unruly as a child. If I were too close to him, who knows what shocking thing he might do!
Seeing Chen Shuyi’s complicated expression and silence, Bai Zhao could roughly guess what she was thinking. He coughed lightly and awkwardly scolded Chuntao:
“Chuntao, don’t be rude. Miss Chen values propriety above all else.
When I was young, I offended Miss Chen. There are some misunderstandings between us. You don’t know the details, so you can’t blame Miss Chen for being distant with me.”
Chuntao pouted as if wronged and said softly:
“I don’t know much about what happened when you were young, but Young Master, weren’t you just hiding your talents and tarnishing your own reputation?
Besides, once there’s a misunderstanding, isn’t it enough to clear it up?”
Chuntao deliberately spoke up for Bai Zhao. After saying this, she secretly winked at him and stuck out her little tongue, looking playful and adorable.
Bai Zhao felt a headache coming on.
This Chuntao was practically Lu Xinrou incarnate!
She was always thinking about her Heir’s happiness and trying to bring Bai Zhao and Chen Shuyi together.
Having you around is truly this Heir’s good fortune!
Bai Zhao was too tired to complain, but he did not stop her either. It would be good to speak openly about the misunderstanding from back then and untie the knot in Chen Shuyi’s heart.
After all, even if the two of them could not become husband and wife, perhaps they could still be friends, right?
Bai Zhao did not want to marry so early, but that did not mean he wanted to hurt Chen Shuyi.
After hearing Chuntao’s words, Chen Shuyi covered her red lips in surprise and looked at Bai Zhao with her watery, beautiful eyes as she asked softly:
“Hiding your talents and tarnishing your own reputation? Heir Bai, is what Chuntao said true? Why would you do that?”
Bai Zhao sighed helplessly, a trace of melancholy appearing on his sharply defined face as he answered:
“It’s true. You may not know this, but if I had not tarnished my own reputation, I probably would not have lived to this age.
After all, your Father has protected you very well. You probably do not understand the filth and darkness hidden within the court and the noble families.
Let’s just say it was for self-preservation. Too many people wanted me dead, or wanted me to become a useless wastrel.
After all, an heir to the Prince of Zhenbei who excelled in both literature and martial arts would, given enough time, become a pillar of the empire. Many people would be crushed by that pressure. You do not need to understand all of that.
I’m saying this only to explain what happened back then. It was never my intention.
I was only forced to cooperate with certain people and do some excessive things, because that was what they wanted to see! I sincerely apologize to Miss Chen!”
After saying this, Bai Zhao bowed solemnly.
He deliberately made himself sound a little more miserable and a little more innocent, simply hoping Chen Shuyi would stop holding this matter against him.
This girl was so gentle and soft. Thinking about what he had done back then made him feel guilty!
Besides, Chen Shuyi might suddenly bring it up one day and stab him with it, and that would be incredibly irritating!
After hearing Bai Zhao finish, Chuntao’s eyes reddened slightly. With a choked voice, she pleaded:
“Sister Shuyi, please forgive my Heir. My Heir really is a very good person!
Qiulan and I have seen how hard these years have been for the Heir. He truly has suffered a great deal!
To grow up safely, he had no choice but to bury his talent, and even then those villains poisoned him in an attempt to ruin his martial path and even kill him!
My prince and princess consort could only take the Heir to the Northern Border to avoid those people. I don’t know what happened between the Heir and you back then, but I believe Your Highness, the Heir, definitely did not mean it, Sister Shuyi!”
Hearing Bai Zhao’s sincere apology, then listening to Chuntao speak about Bai Zhao’s hardships and plead on his behalf, Chen Shuyi even saw the cool, delicate Qiulan looking at her with earnest expectation.
After calming herself a little from all the information she had just taken in, Chen Shuyi parted her cherry lips and said with a trace of apology:
“I never imagined the Heir’s situation was so difficult. This humble woman has misunderstood the Heir. It has indeed untied a knot in Shuyi’s heart. Hearing Chuntao speak of the Heir’s difficulties, it seems Shuyi has wronged the Heir all these years. It was truly not right of me.”
Chuntao’s almond eyes lit up. So she has forgiven the Heir? Wonderful!